Bipolar...Why do the highs have to end??

Question

and the lows ... they go so far down???
I was doing so well for almost 2 weeks..so productive!! then WHAM...I am a sinking ship.. didn't even brush my teeth, never mind get dressed today. Wish there was a magic pill that could keep me up.. not too manic...
Bipolars..what do you take?

Answer 1

This combo works for me, but that doesn't mean it will work for you:

Lamictal, Seroquel, and Tegretol XR. Sometimes I supplement it with Neurontin.

I know what you're talking about when you can't get it together enough to brush your teeth or get dressed. I worked with doc's for over 15 years til a somewhat workable drug combination was discovered.

Best wishes to you.

Answer 2

That's why it's called a cyclical disorder. You go through cycles of mania and depression. As a retired mental health professional, I've seen Lithium Carbonate used predominantly, but for some it was better than others, and then some clients didn't stay on the medicine, and others tried to drink their way through the cycle, which always messed up the treatment plan. Cruztacean1964's got the best answer if you're truly looking for an answer to why the cycle happens. If you're just expressing a wish for the high to remain longer, well, I'm not sure any answer is good. There is no "magic pill", but Terry Z seems to have a good combination, but that works for her, and is no guarantee it will work for you. And Mani's got some great advice. Just work with your doctor and don't try to "medicate" yourself. It really makes the doctor's work a whole lot harder, and success rate minimal. God Bless you.

Answer 3

The highs have to end because the human body cannot sustain them. Kind of like that story of Icarus trying to fly with wax wings. He got too close to the sun, and the wax melted. Therefore the highs are just as dangerous as the lows, because the higher you are, the harder you fall. The trick is to get your meds to balance you out so that you are even, not high and low. But that's pretty much what you said, isn't it? However, it's hard to seek treatment when you're on a high, because it feels so good you don't always realize you need help.

I was once misdiagnosed as bipolar, and I took everything from Depakote to Lamictal to Lithium before they figured out that it wasn't working because none of these were appropriate for me. Now all I take, psychiatrically, is a simple anti-depressant. My daughter, however, is very much bipolar. She takes Lamictal and does quite well on it. It's not for everyone, though. Some people can react badly to it.

Answer 4

I take 4 125 mg tablets in AM and 5 125 mg tablets in PM of Depakoe. I also take 200 mg of Zoloft for the depression. I take these drugs all the time. It will never cure the highs and lows, but the symptoms will be alot more manageable.

Answer 5

i want to hear these answers too. i'm on 3 different meds (Lamictal, Wellbutrin XL, and Lexapro) but have still been down for the past year. they don't seem to help that much. i crashed after a 3 month manic episode... i miss those manic days....

Answer 6

They don't have to end go have a talk to your doctor plenty of those magical pills out there

Answer 7

love those highs , was taking depakote , seroquel and lamictil , moved to a different town and havent seen a doc so now i am not taking anything and yes i need to be taking something

Answer 8

900 mg lithium

Answer 9

Itake lithium CR but most people refuse to take it. ask your dr

Answer 10

Get good exercisers and change diet